A postcard sent by Godalming’s Titanic hero Jack Phillips is being auctioned in the US, disappointing historians who would like to see it travel to its intended destination in Waverley.

More than 100 years since Mr Phillips, the chief wireless operator on board the vessel, wrote the postcard to his sister Elsie, the message has still to complete its journey.

The postcard, which eventually would have come to Farncombe Street, bears the image of the Titanic at Southampton, and was sent on April 6, 1912, nine days before the ship hit an iceberg and sank, causing the deaths of more than 1,500 people, including Phillips himself at the age of 25.

It reads: “Thanks very much for your letter. Having glorious weather, went to Cowes yesterday. Will write later before we sail.”

The postcard is addressed to Miss Elsie Phillips, 11 Farncombe Street, Godalming, and is signed “love all, Jack”.

Now the card has been put up for sale by Boston auctioneer RR auction, with bidding prices hitting $13,000.

Alison Pattison, the curator of Godalming Museum, which has an exhibition devoted to the story of Mr Phillips, said it was always a shame to see historical items with a connection to Waverley disappear around the world.

She said: “The story of Jack Phillips is one which gains a lot of interest locally and of course if money was no object we would be absolutely delighted to have it here in Godalming.

“However, we simply don’t have the budget for things like this, so purchases have to be made using grants, or more usually we receive items donated from collectors.”

The museum, which contains a number of items connected to Mr Phillips, including an oil painting of him, holds one of his previous postcards, which was donated by a private collector.

Mrs Pattison added: “One sad aspect of the story is that originally a lot of his post cards were collected together by his sister in a folder.

“These were then auctioned and now we are seeing the individual postcards being split up, which is quite upsetting.

“Of course he is a person who has a real local connection and we get fantastic interest in his story, especially from children. I think that is because they know he lived and went to school around here. It brings the history home to them.”

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County councillor and Farncombe resident Steve Cosser said: “While I can’t speak for the council’s budget in these sorts of things, I can say that it would be absolutely wonderful if there was someone out there with a lot of cash who could secure something like this for Godalming.”

Mr Phillips’ brave actions aboard the doomed liner on April 15, 1912, helped to save 705 people’s lives, at the cost of his own.

He remained at his post when disaster struck, sending out distress calls and advising rescue boats of the latest position of the ship.

His final message was picked up by another ship a few minutes before the Titanic’s stern sank below the waves.

After abandoning the ship when water flooded around his feet, he ended up on an overturned collapsible lifeboat where he later died of exposure to the severe cold.

He was later described by Harold Bridem, the junior wireless operator, as ‘the man who saved us all’.

Bobby Livingstone, vice president of RR Auction, said: “What makes the postcard so significant is that Phillips wrote it on board the Titanic, on a Titanic postcard, and mailed it four days before the launch from Southampton.

“Most importantly, he mentions getting under way on the voyage that would bring him to his fate.”